Friday, April 18, 2008

The Latest on Genetically Created Pacemaker Cells

Filed under: Cardiology , Genetics

Back in August 2006 we reported about efforts of scientists to use genetically modified cardiac cells to provide an intrinsic pacemaker function. The idea is to induce some cells to have a stable depolarization frequency by delivering genes that encode for specific sodium and potassium ion channels, which play a critical role in maintaining a normal, regularly paced heartbeat.

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog has an interesting post about the latest in "putting pacemaker genes into the parts of the heart that aren't beating properly," including a video that you can see below that shows genetically engineered pacemaker cells.

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